President of the Slovak Republic Appointed Ministers of the Slovak Government

In accordance with performing a constitutional office under Article 102 paragraph 1 (g) of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič accepted resignation of the Ministers nominated to the Government of the Slovak Republic by the Christian Democratic Movement – Minister of Interior Vladimír Palko, Minister of Justice Daniel Lipšic and Minister of Education Martin Fronc, following their letters of resignation of 7 February 2006. At the same time, President Ivan Gašparovič, in line with his constitutional power, appointed new Ministers of the Government of the Slovak Republic – Minister of Interior Martin Pado, Minister of Justice Lucia Žitňanská and Minister of Education László Szigeti. The official ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda.

The resigning Ministers thanked the head of state for good and fair cooperation in spite of existence of some contradicting opinions of solutions to some problems in particular areas.
In his address, President Ivan Gašparovič stressed the inevitability of continuity and undisturbed work of the Government in both, domestic and European contexts. In addition, he expressed a wish that all the steps taken by the newly appointed Ministers as well as the whole Government contribute to this stability needed so much. Then he thanked the resigning Ministers for their work while being heads of entrusted government departments.He appealed to the newly appointed Ministers to contribute by their work to maintenance and supporting of the good reputation of the Slovak Republic in the world. „It is easy to win a good reputation, and it is equally easy to lose it,” added President Ivan Gašparovič. He wished the new ministers a lot of success in leading their particular Ministries “along the right way” in the relatively short time left until the next elections. The President said that he accepted the proposal of appointment made by the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, but he added that he would carefully follow each step of the new Ministers so that the continuity achieved in individual government departments would be kept.